Hoist



W. E. SIMPSON May 12, 1925.

HOIST Filed Sept. 10, 1920 4 Sheets-Shet 1 gwua'ntoz 1451mm- Z. im /w WW PMQW May 12, 1925. 1,537,624 W. E. SIMPSON HOIST Filed Sept. 10, 1920'4 She ets-Sheet 3 May 12, 1925.

w. E. SIMPSON HOIST Filed Sept. 10, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Elwoentom7/228 z'amlfimpsan Gil Patented May 12, 1925.

UNETED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

WILLIAINI E. SIMPSON, OF HIGHLAND PARK, MICHIGAN.

Application filed September 10, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM E. SIMrsoN, a subject of the King of GreatBritain and Ireland, residing at Highland Park, in the county of lVayneand State'of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Hoists, of which the follow ing is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawing.

The invention relates to hoists and is particularly adapted for use incranes and the like in which the hoists are operated by electric motoror by any suitable form of fluid pressure motor. One of the objects ofthe invention is to provide a simple and effective brake for controllingthe movements of the'load and maintaining the same in suspension whenthe motive power is cut olf. Another object is the provision of meansauton'iatically actuating the brake to govern the rate of speed of themotor and further the provision of means for normally actuating thebrake, which is adapted to be manually released when the motive power issupplied and au-ton'iatioally applied when the motive power is cut off.Still another object is the provision of means for securing thecirculation of air around the braking elements for cooling the same.Still further objects of the invention reside in the novel arrangementsand combinations of parts as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hoist embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view thereof;

Figures 3, 4L, 5 and 6 are cross sections respectively on the lines 33,41-4, 5-5 and (3-43 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is an elevation showing a portion of the manually operablemechanism, for releasing the brake;

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are central sections through the control mechanism,showing the parts in different adjusted positions.

Figure 11 is an enlarged sectional view through the casing and mechanismto the right of the planetary gearing illustrated in Figure 2.

As shown, par icularly in Figures 1, 2 and 3 the main frame of the hoistcomprises a pair of semi-cylindrical housings 1 and 2 secured to eachother on the vertical central line of the hoist, as by the bolts 3, theupper adjoining edges of these housings being suitably secured to thehook 4%, by which the Serial No. 409,435.

hoist is suspended. 5 and 6 are circular diaphragms at the outer ends ofthe housings 1 and 2, having the hollow bosses 7, in which is j ournaledthe hollow hoist drum shaft 8. 9 is a motor housing suitably sccured tothe circular diaphragm 5 as by means of the studs 10. 11 is a housingsuitably secured to the circular diaphragm 6 as by means of the bolts12.

13 is a hoist drum having its external peripheral surface formed Withgrooves 14 for receiving the flexible hoisting element 15, which in thepresent instance is a rope. The hoist drum 13 has a pair of hubs 16non-rotatably secured upon the drum shaft 8. For rotating the hoist drum13 from the motor 17, which is mounted in the motor housing 9, there isa drive shaft 18 connected to the motor and extending through the drumshaft 8, and driving the same through the planetary gearing 19 in thehousing 11. The planetary gearing comprises the annular gear 20 securedto a cylindrica'l flange 21 upon the drum shaft,- an annular gear 22secured to the housing 11, and planetary pinions 23 meshing with theannular gears 20 and 22 and with the drive pinion 24 upon the driveshaft 18. The annular gears 20 and 22 have different numbers of teeth sothat for every complete revolution of the planetary pinions 23 withinthe annular gears, the drum shaft will be rotated throughan angle equalto the num ber of teeth difference between the two annular gears. I

For controlling the rate of speed of the motor 17, the followingconstruction is provided: Upon the outer end of the drive shaft 18 isformed a flange 25 to which is secured the brake driving member 26, asby means of the bolts 27. member has the cylindrical flange-26 having inits outer periphery slots or key-ways in which the series of brakedriving disks 28 engage in a manner well known in the art andalternately arranged with these brake driving disks are the series ofdisks 29 which are held stationary by key-like projections 30 integralwith the housing 11, which projections engage in peripheral slots orkeyways in said disks. axially movable or in other words movable in adirection parallel to the drive shaft 18.

A disk 31 of slate or other insulating ma terial which forms the base ofthe. electric controller to be hereinafter described is se- This brakedriving- Both series of disks are spiral I vented from rotation whilecapable of endwise'movement. Upon the pin 38 is secured one end of thebolt "39, the other end of L which is threaded-to receive-the nut '40.

Around the bolt 39 is arranged a helical spring 41, one end of whichabuts against 7 the nut 40 while theother end bears upon the projecting.ends ofthe pins 42 secured within the sleeve so that the inner end'ofsaid sleeve is yieldably pressed against the outerj brake disk 29 by thespring41-with a force depending-upon the location of the nut relative tothe bolt 39, thereby tending to force the brake disks 28 and 29 intocontact with each other and toward the outwardly-extending annular'flange 43 upon the cylindrical flange -26 of the driving member 26.

The reaction of these disks instead of -being taken directly upon' the-annular *flange 43 is received by a pair of diametrically oppositebuttons 44 secured to the faces of. governing weights 45 which arethreaded internally/to engage the screws 46 fixedly-secured 1n theannular flange 43 and extending transversely. thereof. Each of thegovernor Weights'45 is normally held in. the position shown by dottedlines in Figure 4, by means of-aspring 47, one end of which is attachedto a lug 48 uponthe weight and'the other to an adjustable eyebolt 49secured to a bracket 50 upon'the annular flange 43 and preferablyvintegral therewith. As shown the screws 46 have left hand threadsqandthe arrangement is such that when the governor weights 45 are, causedtomove outward to i the position shown by full lines in Figure 4,'due tocentrifugal force caused by the rotation ofvthe drive shaft 18 with thedriving member 26 and governing weights45 they rotate upon the screwsy46and move longitudinally thereon-and away from the annular flange 43,thereby causing the buttons44 to pressagainst the inner disk 28 and moveboth the series of driving disks, 28 and stationary disks 29 intocontact witheach other to a degree depending upon the speed of ro-,

tation. V

Synchronism of the movement of the two governing weights 45 is insuredby the equalizer ring 51 .whi'ch is rotatably sup ported upon theperiphery of the boss .52 uponthe circular diaphragm 53 integral withthe housing 11 and within which the metrically opposite points by links54 to the governor-weights 45.

Upon the outer end of the sleeve 35 is a 'fianged collar 55 securedthereon by the nuts 56 and prevented from rotating by the key 57 Betweenthe inner end of this collar and the outer end of the bushing 34 is acarrier 58 vrotatably mounted upon the sleeve 35 and carrying brushes-590fthe-controller, suitableinsulator: washers being interposed ina-=w'ell "known manner. 'Upon the adjoining faces of the carrier 58 andcollar 55 are 'double helical or cam like projections 60 as shown 7 inFigure 7 which projections are so arranged that by rotating thecarrier58 in one direction or the other by means to be hereinafter explainedthe collar-55 is forced outward and away" from' the carrier-58 so-astowithdraw the sleeve 35-against the-action of-thespring 41 therebymanualllyreleasing the-brake.

' The arrangement for controlling-and reversing the hoist motor 17,comprises a-series of contacts 6l and 62which are electrica-llyconnected to the motor; and are frictionally engagedby fingers of anyordinary con struction upon thebrushes-59. SuitabIe r heO stats areinterposed-in a well known manner and protection of the motor fromoverload isprovided for in the form of cartridge fuses 63 attachedto thebase or disk 31.

The rotation of= the bruslr carrier: 58- is effected through movement ofthe manu ally operable-lever 64and pendant operating cords 65 in thefollowing 'mannerf The lever. 64 is rotatably mounted withina boss 66upon the cover 67 which is hinged to the housing 11 and suitably held'in'closedposition. 68' is anannulus -within thecover 67 andnon-rotatably secured: .to* the lever 64, this'annulus being-providedwith diametrically opposite radially projecting jaws 69, 7 0, 71 and 72arranged in pairs and shown more in'detail in Figures 5, 8, 9 and 10. Tothe brush carrier 58 is attached a ring 73 on the outer periphery ofwhich is mounted a ring 74 keyed thereon, sons to be capableof slidingaxial-1y but prevented from rotating in relation thereto, Thering-74-has two diametrically opposite projections "75 and 76 which are -adaipted normally to extend between and engagewith -the pairs of jaws 69and 70, 71 and". 72 --respectively,=soi that when one a or the other ofthe operating cords 65 is pulled downward; the consequent rotarymovement of the hand lever 64 is imparted to the bruslrear=rier58,thereby first releasing the brake by withdrawing thev sleeve 35aspreviously-idescribed: andwthen causing the contactfingers-of thebrushes 59; to cooperate witheitherthev contacts' 61 or 62 'so as toenergize the-motor 17..and to cause-tlie-hoist drum-13 to'be rotatedlinone direction or the other depending on which of the operating cords ispulled.

The ring 74 is held in its normal position as shown in Figure 9 by theyoke 77, the fork ends 78 of which engage in a groove 79 in the ring.This yoke is mounted on the end of a rod 80 which is slida'bly supportedin bearings 81, 82 and 83, the former bearing being upon the motorhousing 9 and the latter two bearings upon the housing 11. This rod ismaintained in a neutral or central position by two springs 84 and 85surrounding the rod, the spring 84 bearing against the collar 86 fixedupon the rod and one side of the supporting bearing 83, while the spring85 bears against the other side of the supporting bearing 83 and againstthe yoke 77 these springs being of equal strength.

Upon the rod 80 is slidably mounted a rack 87 having teeth adapted toengage the grooves 13 of the hoist 14, these grooves being of such depthas to receive these teeth in addition to the flexible hoisting element15. By this arrangement, the rack 87 which travels back and forth as thedrum is rotated in one direction or the other serves to maintain thehoisting element 15 within the grooves at all times regardless of sidepull. The rack 87 is prevented from rotating by the inner faces of theslot 88 within which it projects, this slot being formed in thesemi-cylindrical housings 1 and 2 near their corresponding lower edges.

The brush carrier 58 is normally held in the neutral or central positionby a coil spring 89 shown more clearly in Figure 6 and having its freeends turned outward so as to embrace between them a projection 90 uponthe ring 73 and a projection 91 upon the collar 55. Stops 92 and 93,formed of pairs of lock nuts, are provided upon the rod 80, these stopsbeing adjustable to come in the path of the rack 87 and be operatedthereby, so as to cause longitudinal movement of the rod 80 in onedirection or the other as the hoist block upon the flexible hoistingelement 15 reaches its upper or lower limit of travel. By this means,when the operating lever 64 is held in one or the other working positioncausing the drum to be rotated and the rack 87 comes against one or theother of the stops and imparts longitudinal movement to the rod 80, theyoke 77 is carried with it and the ring 74, thereby moved into one orthe other of the positions shown in Figures 8 and 10 causinglongitudinal displacement of the projections 75 and 76 in relation tothe lugs 69, 70, 71 and 72.

It will be observed that these lugs are arranged in different planes ina longitudinal direction. The diametrically opposite lugs 69 and 72being in a common plane while the diametrically opposite lugs and 71 arein a common plane offset therefrom. The arrangement is such that whenthe operating lever is rotated in a clockwise direcs tion, which in thepresent case is assumed to be the lowering direction, the driving of thering 74 and through it the brush carrier 58, is effected by pressure ofthe lugs 69 and 72 against the projections and 76 on the ring while whenthe lever is rotated in a counterclockwise direction so as to cause theload to be raised, the driving is effected through the other pair oflugs 70 and 71. Vhen, therefore, the load is being lowered and the hoistblock reaches the predetermined lower limit of its movement, the yoke 77and ring 74 are moved from the central position as shown in Figure 9 tothe position shown in Figure 8 which brings the projections 75 and 76clear of the lugs 69 and 72 and allows the brush carrier 58 to bereturned to the neutral or central position under the action of thespring 89 so as to cut off the current. This rotation of the brushcarrier also permits of the inward movement of the sleeve 35 to applythe brake. It will be understood from Figure 8 that the lugs 70'and 71are still in a position to engage with the projections 75 and 76 so asto move the brush carrier to the raising position when the movement ofthe operating lever is reversed. Similarly when the load is being raisedand the hoist block reaches its upper limit of travel, the yoke 77 andring 74 are moved into the position indicated in Figure 10 which bringsthe projections 75 and 76 clear of the lugs 70 and 71 and releases thebrush carrier and brake, but the lugs 69 and 72 are still in a positionto engagewith the projections and move the brush carrier to the loweringposition, when the operating lever is moved in the proper direction. Itwill be readily understood that by the arrangement above described thebrush carrier is returned instantaneously to the neutral position whenthe stop motion is operated, thereby giving a quick break of the currentand avoiding burning and flashing at the contacts.

By the employment of the centrifugal brake governing device'inconjunction with the hand operating device for releasing the brakewholly or partially while at the same time controlling the currentsupply, a much greater precision of control is obtained than is possibleby electrical means alone, and the whole apparatus may be soproportioned and adjusted that the brake is automatically applied when adangerous or objectionable rate of speed is reached, even though thecontrol-may be in a full on position.

Another important feature of my invention resides in the means forsecuring a circulation of air around the braking elements to assist incooling the same. As shown, the housing 11 is provided with suitableZIBI- turesjQP-and the outer brakev disk ,29v'1and controller base pr;disk Share also provided with suitable apertures 95 and 96 respectively,rwhile the hub of the; operating lever 64: has an aperture97therein for the passage of airwhichis caused to pass, around the brakedisks by means of the vanes 98 upon the governor Weights 4 5.

-lVl-1at Iv claim as my invention is:

1.;In, a hoist, the combination with a driving shaft, of.- a seriesofvrotary brake disks secured to said shaft, a series of stationarybrake disks ,alternating w th sa d rotary disks,.allof said disks beingcapable sure. element on one side, of said disks, a ro-' tating elementon the opposite side. of .said disks,-,a movable abutment on saidrotating element,.-means-, for withdrawingsaidipressure,eleme11t,';,and. a centrifugal device for varying thepositlon of sald abutment according; to the speed of rotat on .of saiddriving shaft.

3. In a hoist, thecombination ,with a housing, of a driving shaft.rotatably mounted therein an; annular flange nonrotatably mounted, uponsaid driving shaft, a brake; element-.non-rotatablymounted on saiddriving; shaft. and at; the side of' said annular-flange, a secondbrakeelement nonrotatably securedto saidhousing' and at the side ofsaid;first-mentioned -brake-element and adaptedrto engage the latter, a

governor-,Weight controlled by;;the, rateofrotation ofisaid %drivingshaft, and, means upon sald annular flange adapted,-,-to;-be movedbysaidgovernor-Jive ght to force the brake elements into-contact Witheach other ""Wllfil] saidagovernor weight moves away from saidannular-flange .npon rotation. of said governor Weight relative tosaidannular fiange. 7

v4. In a hoist, the combination with; a driving ,shaft, of; a .series'of alternately fixed' s and rotary brake. elements coaxial witlrsaidshaft, azhousing surrounding said elements, and providedwith airpassages, and vanes on said rotary elements adapted to, propel an aircurrent through l ons-7 ing to cool saidvbrake elements 5.,In a hoist,the combination with .a housing of a driving shaft; rotatablymountrotation of said driving shaft; for. variably forcing said fixedand rotary brake elements into frictional engagement with each other,

andmeans on said governor eight .for propelling an air current throughsaid housing to coollsaid brake, elements. I

'6. In a hoist, the combination with a driving shaft, ,of a seriesiofrotary vbrake memberssecured tosaidshaft, amseries of stationary brakemembersalternating with said rotary members, all of said members beingcapable of axialmovement, means for applying spring pressure to one sideof said members, a rotating abutment on the opposite side of saidI1181]1b6l"S, 111e2L11S for relieving said spring pressure, and ,meansfor varying thelposition. of saidrotary abutment. according. to thespeedof, rotation.

,7. In a hoist, the, combination with ya housing, of ,gClIlVlIlg shaftrotatably mounted therein, a member vnon-rotatab-ly mounted on saiddriving shaft,.a brake ,eles

ment non-rotatably] nounted ,on said drivingshaft,a second brakeelement. non-rotatably secured to sa d housing and adapted to engage thefirst-ment oned brakeelement,

a governor Weight-controlled bythe rate of rotation of said-drivingvshaft, and, means adapted to vbe moved said governor Weight to force thebrake elements into contact W'ltl1 $tCl1. other hen said HgovernorWeight moves away from v the iirst-mentioned memberupon. rotation. ofsaid governor Weight relative, to the member aforesaid.

.,8.,In a hoist, the comb nation-with a drivingl shaft, of ,a series ofalternately fixed and rotary brake elements, co -axial with said -shaft,a spring-operated sleeve adapted to, maintain said brake-elements infrictional engagement, a, collar secured-to said sleeve, a memberrotatably mountedon said sleeve and having a cam engagementith said,,collar, and a levei operatively connected to said rotatable emember andadapted to rotate the same to, cause s aicl collar to move said sleeve.againSt the tension of its spring to release, said brake elements.

In, testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM SIMPSON.

